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House Passes 20-Week Abortion Ban

Oct 4, 2017

The U.S. House of Representatives passed 237-189 H.R. 36, known as the “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” which makes it a crime for any person to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is 20 weeks or more.

Liberty Counsel has worked steadily to encourage legislators to enact this life-saving bill into law. Once the Senate approves the bill, President Donald Trump will sign it into law.

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act recognizes that unborn babies as young as 20 weeks have pain receptors all over their skin in a concentration equal to or greater than that of adult skin. This bill was introduced by Rep. Trent Franks and provides exceptions for the mother’s life or health and for victims of rape and incest. A physician who performs or attempts to perform an abortion under an exception must comply with specified requirements. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, up to five years in prison, or both.

A former abortionist, Dr. Anthony Levatino, gave a powerful testimony before Congress that he had performed 1,200 abortions—over 100 late-term abortions up to 24 weeks. Dr. Levatino said, “Imagine, if you can, that you are a pro-choice obstetrician/gynecologist like I was. Using a Sopher 13” clamp with rows of ridges or teeth, you grasp anything you can inside the womb. Once you’ve grasped something inside, squeeze on the clamp to set the jaws and pull hard—really hard. You feel something let go and out pops a fully formed leg about six inches long. Reach in again and grasp anything you can…and out pops an arm. Reach in again and again with that clamp and tear out the spine, intestines, heart and lungs.”

The House vote for the bill came on the two-year anniversary of the conviction of late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who operated a large Philadelphia abortion clinic and killed babies in a live-birth abortion process. Gosnell was convicted of murder, conspiracy to kill, and involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to life imprisonment.